The role of privacy officer has changed since it was mandated in 2003 by HIPAA. New regulations, technology and data-sharing initiatives have reshaped the landscape, according to Chris Dimick, staff writer for Journal of AHIMA, who outlined the new role of the privacy officer in the April edition.

Royal Philips Electronics and Brainlab have formed a collaboration to develop an intra-operative system with the goal of streamlining neurosurgery procedures.

A CMIOs effectiveness will be dependent on the quality of their partnerships with CMOs, CEOs, CIOs and other executives, while reporting structures are of secondary importance and should be determined by the particulars of organizations and objectives for the CMIO, according to a perspective paper from the Advisory Board.

A majority of young physicians are pessimistic about the future of the U.S. healthcare system, with concerns about healthcare reform and declining reimbursement the main sources of the gloomy outlook, according to an online survey commissioned by The Physicians Foundation.

Researchers have found the introduction of call handling software and mobile technology over a medical-grade wireless network improved staff satisfaction and improvements in efficiency and information flow have been accompanied by a reduction in untoward incidents, length of stay and peri-arrest calls.

Human error remains the greatest threat to data security across the healthcare industry, according to an April report from Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics.

Low-risk patients presenting with chest pain at an emergency department were less likely to undergo stress testing if they used a tool designed to elucidate their risk of a heart attack and engage them in decision making, according to a study published online April 10 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. No patients in the randomized evaluation experienced a major adverse cardiac event after discharge, suggesting the decision aid may help reduce unnecessary testing without compromising care.

The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is collaborating with other industry and government entities to support the healthcare industrys upgrade to ASC X12 5010. This support will take the form of a multi-tiered campaign to gather feedback, track challenges, identify and provide guidance to correcting ASC X12 5010 implementation-related issues, especially among commercial payors.